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<\/p>\nLionesses\u2019 legend Fara Williams MBE has backed a campaign to save the humble football kickabout amid concerns kids have less space than ever to play.<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old was capped 177 times for England and scored 40 international goals in a career that included stints at Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Reading.<\/p>\n
But it started modestly \u2013 with her first taste of football taking place on concrete council estates in south-west London.<\/p>\n
And now, after a poll of 530 children aged six to 16 who live in urban areas found 44 percent have \u2018nowhere\u2019 nearby for a kickabout, the ex-Lioness is determined future generations don\u2019t miss out.<\/p>\n
She has teamed up with Weetabix to launch a new campaign called \u2018Balls Allowed’ – which is helping more girls play football by placing pop-up goals in urban areas across the country including London, Leeds, and Manchester.<\/p>\n
It aims to raise awareness of barriers to kickabouts in public spaces – including \u2018no balls allowed\u2019 signs, which aren’t always legally enforceable – after 38 percent said such signs have deterred them.<\/p>\n
Fara Williams said: \u201cFor me, it all started on a council estate.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to have a kickabout in my local community was my first step to discovering a love for football.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout it, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today, I wouldn\u2019t have been a Lioness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really hope more girls get the opportunity to play \u2013 both in their communities (through the Balls Allowed goals) and at grassroot programmes such as the Weetabix Wildcats.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study also found 55 percent of boys and girls are more interested in playing football than they were before, thanks to this year\u2019s endeavours by the Lionesses.<\/p>\n
While it also emerged 11 percent think they could \u2018definitely\u2019 make it as pro footballer \u2013 with 23 percent describing themselves as \u2018very good\u2019.<\/p>\n
But regardless of their current level of ability, 53 percent polled fear a lack of space to play could hold them back in their attempt to become a pro player like Fara Williams.<\/p>\n
Further to this, 60 percent believe they\u2019d have more kickabouts with friends than they\u2019re currently able to – if there were more places to do so.<\/p>\n
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Instead, the research carried out through OnePoll found 65 percent of those who feel this way spend their time indoors, watching TV or playing video games.<\/p>\n
Lorraine Rothwell, spokesperson for Weetabix, which is giving away 100s of footballs through the ‘Balls Allowed’ website\u00a0and special packs of the cereal, said: \u201cFor many of us, our first experience of playing football is a casual game against local kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, if you don\u2019t have a garden, and local green spaces ban you from playing by putting up \u2018no balls allowed\u2019 signs, potential Lionesses of the future may never achieve their full potential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that when communities can come together through play, they thrive which is why we\u2019re launching our pop-up goals and free footballs to give everyone the advantage to have that kickabout (with parental supervision of course!).”<\/p>\n
‘Balls Allowed’ sits alongside England Football\u2019s ‘Weetabix Wildcats’ programme, which sees more than 1,800 football sessions take place every week.<\/p>\n
Delivered by qualified FA coaches, the sessions are aimed at girls aged five to 11 and offer them the “chance to try football for the first time and provide regular opportunities to play in a safe environment” – for more information click here.<\/p>\n
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